New partnership with Unum provides 15 bursaries over next two years

27 March 2017

Partnership represents an important contribution to Birkbeck's mission

Birkbeck has signed a new corporate partnership agreement with Unum, one of the UK’s leading employee benefits providers specialising in financial protection, to launch the Unum Access to University Fund. The fund will provide five £1000 bursaries for undergraduate students in the 2017-18 academic year, increasing to ten £1000 bursaries in 2018-19.

The partnership represents an important contribution to Birkbeck’s mission of making higher education available to everyone. The bursaries are designed to support students whose financial circumstances present barriers to study, and five of the bursaries in 2018-19 are aimed specifically at students with a registered disability for whom financial support is a key pillar to achieving success in their studies.

Professor Latchman CBE, Master of Birkbeck said: “We’re delighted that Unum have decided to partner with Birkbeck. Our students often juggle study with work, family, mortgages and other financial commitments and the Unum Access to University Fund will make a huge difference by relieving some of the financial pressure for the recipients and enable them to fully focus on their studies.”

John Letizia, Head of Public Affairs & CSR at Unum said: “Education is a key element of Unum’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. We are delighted to partner with Birkbeck and support the students with these bursaries. Unum is absolutely committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce and it is our hope that the Unum Access to University Fund will help make higher education more accessible.”